1998 BMW CONVERTIBLE Owners Manual

14 4
License plate lamps 5 watt bulb
dScrew out the screws and remove
the handle.
dPress the bulb holder to the left and
remove.
dExtract the bulb from the contacts.
Front interior lamp Interior lamp with reading lamps:
(Bulbs 10 watt)
dInterior lamp: use a screwdriver to
press out the lens at the left recess.
Extract the bulb from the contacts.
dReading lamp: remove the entire
lamp from the trim, remove the con-
tact strip and gently press against
the lamp while turning it to the left to
remove.b
When reinstalling first, engage the
housing then the lens.c
Rear interior lampsBMW Sedan, Coupe
Without reading lamp
5 watt bulb
dPull the lamp out of the trim.
dFold up the reflector and remove the
bulb.
With reading lamp
*
6 watt bulbdPull the lamp out of the trim.
dFold up the PCB and remove the
bulb.
Illuminated make-up mirror
*
10 watt bulb
dRemove lamp housing (use a screw-
driver if necessary).
dReplace bulb.
360de121Bulb replacement

14 5
At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Luggage compartment lamps BMW Sedan, Coupe
10 watt bulb
Lamp on underside of rear shelf:
dUse a screwdriver to pry out the lamp
at the recess.
dReplace bulb.
BMW Convertible:
5 watt bulbs
There is one lamp each in the bulb cov-
ers of the rear lamps.
dUse a screwdriver to pry out the lamp
at the recess.
dReplace bulb.Glove compartment lamp 5 watt bulb
dUse a screwdriver to pry out the lamp
forward.
dReplace bulb.Footwell lamps
*
5 watt bulb
dUse a screwdriver to pry the lamp out
of the lower instrument panel trim.
dReplace bulb.
Replace batteryIf lamp intensity drops, renew the bat-
tery to safeguard against acid escaping.
To change the battery, use a screw-
driver to remove the cover on the back
of the key.
Insert a new battery of the same type
(CR 2025) - as shown in the picture - so
that it touches the contacts.
Snap the cover back on and press it in
evenly.A
Bring old batteries to a collection
point or your BMW Retailer.c365de132
Bulb replacement Master keys

14 6
a
Change tires only on a flat, hard
surface affording good traction. Avoid
jacking the car on a soft or slippery sup-
port surface (snow, ice, loose gravel,
etc.), as it could slide sideways.
Take extra care to ensure that the base
of the jack is positioned on a solid sup-
port surface.
Never use wooden blocks or similar
objects to support the base of the jack,
as the weight of the car could exceed
their support capacity.
Never lie beneath the vehicle or start
the engine while the car is supported by
the jack - risk of fatal injury.
Additional precautions to observe when
changing flat tires:
When pulling over on the roadside to
change a tire, always try to park the car
as far as possible from passing traffic.
Switch on the hazard flashers.
All passengers should be outside the
car and well away from your immediate
working area (e.g., behind the guard-
rail).Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position, remove the key and
engage the steering lock. Shift into 1st
or reverse (selector lever in Park with
automatic) and engage the parking
brake.
If a warning triangle or portable hazard
warning lamp is available, set it up on
the roadside at an appropriate distance
from the rear of the vehicle. Observe all
safety guidelines and regulations.c
b
To avoid rattling noises, note the
positions of the tools and return them to
their original positions.c
To change the tire you will need
Car jackIn the luggage compartment below the
floor mat at the right next to the spare
tire.
After using, screw the jack all the way
back down and insert it in its holder.Spare wheel and hexagon
adapter
*
Both are stored in the luggage com-
partment below the floor mat. Take out
the floor mat. Remove the hexagon
adapter (only on models with light-alloy
wheels with wheel lug cover in the
shape of a large hexagon nut), unscrew
the wing nut by hand and remove the
wheel.Wheel stud wrench In the luggage compartment at the right
on the box. ScrewdriverIn onboard tool kit beneath luggage
compartment floor panel.b
The storage shelf in the spare tire
can be used to store small parts. To
avoid rattling noises, you can place
cloths between them.c
360de106
Changing tires

14 7
At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
Procedure1 Wheel bolt cover
* removal.
Steel disk wheel: remove wheel cover
by hand. Light-alloy wheel with lug
cap in the shape of a large hexagon
nut: position the hexagon adapter on
the lug bolt cover, apply the lug
wrench and turn it to the left.2 Loosen lug bolts 1/2 turn.
3 Remove the respective cover cap
from the jacking point. Depending on
the vehicle version, remove the pro-
tective cap either by inserting the
screwdriver into the slot and turning
to the left (arrow in left illustration) or
by pressing in the cap on the bottom
(arrow in illustration above).4 Insert the jack all the way into the
support while ensuring that the base
of the jack is securely positioned on
the road surface. Always chock the
wheels to prevent the vehicle from
rolling.
5 Turn the handle to raise the jack until
the wheel is free of the ground.
a
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing tires only. Never use it to raise
another vehicle model or a load of an-
other kind, since that could result in ac-
cidents and personal injury.
Never lie beneath the vehicle when it is
supported by the jack Ð risk of fatal inju-
ry!c
6 Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the
wheel.
360de108
365de061
360de109
Changing tires

14 8
7 Lift the new or spare tire into posi-
tion, secure by screwing at least two
lug bolts into opposite sockets and
remove the alignment tool.
8 Screw in the remaining lug bolts,
then tighten down all the lug bolts,
working in a cross pattern.
9 Lower the vehicle, remove the jack
and screw the cover back into the
jack opening with the screwdriver.
10 Tighten the lug bolts, working in a
cross pattern.
a
To ensure safety, have the lug
bolts tested with a calibrated torque
wrench (torque specification is 72 lbs-ft/
100 Nm) at the earliest opportunity. If
you have mounted a new wheel
(e.g., the spare tire) for the first time,
check the lug nut torque after approx.
600 miles (1,000 km).c
11 Mount wheel cover. Position the
wheel cover with the valve opening
over the valve stem in the rim and
press with both hands starting from
the valve stem and moving around
the entire circumference of the
wheel cover.When storing the wheel, ensure that
you do not damage the retaining pin in
the spare tire recess.
When light-alloy wheels other than
Original BMW light-alloy wheels are fit-
ted to the car, it may be necessary to
use different lug bolts.
Have the defective tire repaired and
balanced at the earliest opportunity.
360de110
BMW
360de111
Changing tires

14 9
At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
The battery is located behind the right-
side trim panel in the luggage compart-
ment. A separate positive terminal in
the engine compartment is available for
jump-starting (also refer to page 153).
Only certain battery types may be used
on the BMW convertible. Consult your
BMW Retailer for details.
The battery is maintenance-free, mean-
ing that the electrolyte will normally last
for the life of the battery.
Should the electrolyte drop to below
the minimum level - e.g., during extend-
ed operation in hot climates - add dis-
tilled water (no acid!).
Electrolyte level: Up to the "MAX" mark
on the outside of the battery in each
cell, approx. 0.2 inches (5 mm) above
the top of the plates.
Keep the top of the battery clean and
dry.
SymbolsYou will find the following symbols on
your car battery. To avoid injury, please
observe the corresponding precautions
whenever you work with or near the
battery.

360de125
Before working with the battery,
read the following:
R
Wear eye protection. Avoid let-
ting acid or lead particles come
into contact with your eyes, your
skin or your clothing.
S
Battery acid is extremely corro-
sive. Wear eye protection and
protective gloves. Do not tilt the
battery; acid could emerge from the
ventilation openings.
T
Ensure that children keep well
away from batteries and battery
acid.
U
Never allow sparks or open
ßame, and do not smoke in the
vicinity of the battery. Avoid
sparks from electrical cables and
equipment. Never short-circuit the bat-
tery terminals. There is a danger of
injury from powerful sparks.
V
A highly-explosive gas is gener-
ated when the battery is
charged.
W
If you happen to get acid in your
eyes, rinse thoroughly for sev-
eral minutes with clear water.
Then consult a physician immediately. If
you get acid spray on your skin or cloth-
ing, apply soap immediately to neutral-
ize the acid, then rinse with plenty of
water. If electrolyte is accidentally
ingested, consult a physician immedi-
ately.
X
To protect the casing against
ultraviolet radiation, avoid
exposing it to direct sunlight.
A discharged battery can freeze; always
store the battery in areas where the
temperature remains above freezing.
Battery

15 0
Removal and installationa
Do not disconnect the battery
cable from its terminal while the engine
is running, as the resulting voltage surge
would destroy the vehicle's electronic
systems.c
When disconnecting, start with the neg-
ative terminal, then proceed to the pos-
itive side. Unscrew the battery retaining
clamp.
When installing the battery, connect the
positive terminal first, then proceed to
the negative pole.
a
When installing, always ensure that
the battery is properly mounted.
Otherwise it will not be sufficiently
secured in an accident.c
Charging the battery Always ensure that the engine is off
before recharging an installed battery. a
To avoid short circuits, always
disconnect the cable from the battery's
negative terminal before working on the
electrical system.cOn vehicles with a connecting point in
the engine compartment, it is easiest to
charge the battery by using this con-
necting point (positive pole), and a
ground in the engine compartment
(refer to "Jump-starting" on page 15 3).
If you are planning to remove the vehi-
cle from service for more than four
weeks, you should disconnect the bat-
tery at the negative terminal.
If you intend to store your car for longer
than six weeks: remove the battery,
charge it and store it in a cool (but frost-
free) room. Recharge the battery after
three months at the latest, as it will oth-
erwise be damaged beyond use. Every
time the battery is discharged, espe-
cially over extended periods, its service
life is reduced.
A
Bring used batteries to an autho-
rized collection point or a BMW Re-
tailer. Always maintain the battery in an
upright position for transport and stor-
age. Secure the battery against tilting
when transporting.c
a
Storage periods during which the
battery is disconnected are not taken
into consideration by the Service Inter-
val Display for changing the brake fluid.
Therefore, make sure that the brake fluid
is changed every two years at the latest,
regardless of the display. Additional
notes: refer to page 128.c
Battery

15 1
At a glanceControlsCar careRepairsTechnicalDataIndex
If an electrical device fails, switch it off
and check the fuse.
The fuse box (electrical distribution
center) with spare fuses, relays and
plastic tweezers, is located on the left-
hand side of the engine compartment.
dPress the retaining flap in and lift off
the cover.
dRemove the fuse of the defective
consumer from the socket with the
plastic tweezers.
dIf the fuse is burned through (the
metal wire will have melted and sep-
arated), replace it with a new fuse of
the same ampere rating.A list of the fuses with their respective
ampere ratings and the equipment in
their circuits is provided in the fuse box
lid.
a
Do not patch burned out fuses or
replace them with fuses of a different
color or ampere rating, since this could
cause an overload on an electrical wire
and lead to fire in the vehicle.c
If the fuse continues to burn through,
refer the problem to a BMW Retailer for
repair.
360de102Fuses